Chapter Twenty-Three
Choosing members for the audit team took all of five seconds—the exact time it took for the Dragon King to command his steward to do the job for him. At least he gave Torli some direction. He had to choose two people from every race to join the team, courtiers if possible.
As we left Torli behind, I grimaced up at Falken. “I thought you wanted my help in choosing the auditors?”
“I wanted your presence.” Falken glanced at me. “Would you like to fly with me?”
“Fly? I don't have wings.”
He chuckled. “Yes, I noticed. I meant I could carry you.”
“Carry me? You'd carry me?”
“If you'd like.”
“I would! I've never flown before.”
“I think you'll enjoy it. Shall we?”
I nodded, so excited that I didn't mind when he took my hand.
The King led me out to the courtyard. Horns scrambled out of our way until he motioned one over.
“Yes, Your Majesty?” The Ricarri woman bowed.
“Ring the bell.” Falken unbuckled his belt.
“The bell, Sire?”
“Yes, the bell. Ring it. I will address the city.”
“Yes, Sire!” The woman ran for the stairs that led up to the wall walk, shouting, “The King is taking flight!”
The horns came to attention as the woman headed for the bell tower while the Dragon King undressed.
“Ah, shouldn't one of your knights accompany us?” I took his clothes from him as he removed them.
“I'm just flying around my city. I'll be fine.”
“Oh.” I looked back at the palace just as two Dragon knights emerged.
The King rolled his eyes at them. “I'm making the announcement.”
“We will join you, Your Majesty,” a knight said.
“No, it's not necessary. Stay here.” He kicked off his boots and then removed his pants. “Give them my clothes, Master Sevarin.”
With an apologetic wince, I handed a knight his clothes.
The King tossed his pants at the other knight.
Then, stark naked, he strode to the center of the courtyard.
Everyone watched as the King shifted—his body expanding, bronze scales spreading over his skin, wings sprouting from his back, and a long tail whipping about.
I wondered if the tail language of dragons was similar to that of Volpers.
When the transformation was complete, he lifted his head and roared.
“They won't need to ring the bell after that,” a knight muttered and dropped the King's clothes onto the palace steps.
Despite the roar, the bell rang. A minute later, more bells in the city joined the first until the entire city echoed with them. They rang for two reasons: a warning of danger, or the imminent flight of a dragon.
“Master Sevarin,” Falken's voice came deeper from his dragon mouth, more resonant and louder.
I hurried forward and stopped a foot before the dragon.
He held out his right foreleg, foot facing up, and opened his claws. “Climb onto my foot.”
I climbed onto Falken's foot, using his claws to hoist myself up onto the padded surface, and then his claws curled in over me, forming a cage.
As he lifted me to his chest, he crouched upon his hind legs.
With a leap, he sprang into the air, the rush of it making my stomach drop.
I clung to one of his claws and knelt on the base of his foot.
My eyes were wide open, taking it all in, but I had to squint against the wind when the King lurched forward.
Falken kept me tucked against his chest, his arm in that awkward position so I could rest on his palm, protected from the wind.
Even hundreds of feet off the ground, I felt safe with him.
He wouldn't let me fall. If I threw myself through the gap in his claws, he'd catch me.
I was certain of it. I couldn't remember a time when I had trusted a non-Volper so much, and yet it felt natural.
My hair whipped back, and I breathed in the cleanest air I'd ever smelled. “This is wonderful!”
A laugh rumbled in the King's chest. “I knew you'd like it.”
Then the bells went silent.
“Cover your ears. It's time for my announcement.”
I plugged my ears with my fingers, but I could still hear Falken speak.
“Citizens of Eberein!” The King circled the city. “We have discovered the source of the Silver Rot.”
Below us, people of many races flooded the streets. No one had to strain to hear the Dragon King. His voice carried across all of Eberein.
“Items using resonant enchantment loops are susceptible to rot and help it spread. My horns and talons will come to collect any such enchanted items from you. Do not hold anything back. They could spread the rot into your homes and threaten the lives of your loved ones. We will dispose of these items, and all resonant enchantment loops are now prohibited. If you have items that the teams have missed, please bring them to the Royal Palace.” He circled the city.
“And do not be afraid. The destruction you see of public architecture is only to remove the susceptible magic. Once they are clean, we will rebuild those structures. It will take time, but this must be done to save our city. Please be patient with those working to correct the issue. They are trying to save you and Eberein.”
The Dragon King spun around to head back to the palace.
“Together, we will conquer this rot and clean our city!”
The people cheered and waved at the King as he flew above. But I wasn't sure if that was enough. He hadn't mentioned the thefts or what he was doing to catch the culprits. Maybe it was better that he hadn't. It would only make people more hesitant to allow the clearance teams into their homes.
The King landed and laid his foot on the ground to open his claws.
I slid out and onto my feet. I had spent most of the flight with my ears closed, but it had still been the most fun I'd ever had.
To see the city from that perspective was priceless.
I hurried to the steps to give Falken space to shift and found his clothes there without his knights.
A quick glance found the knights on the wall-walk.
They were coming down now that the King was back.
I gathered Falken's clothing and rushed to meet him halfway across the courtyard. He needed to be clothed as soon as possible. I was getting annoyed at how often he appeared naked in public.
Falken slipped into his pants first and then nodded to his knights.
They didn't look happy, but I agreed with the King.
He'd only been out there for a few minutes.
If there had been an attack, it would have had to originate from the ground, and Falken would have had time to outmaneuver it.
But he was the Dragon King, and it was their duty to protect him.
“Thank you.” I handed him his belt. “I enjoyed that.”
“We'll go for a longer flight next time.” He finished dressing, took my hand, and we went inside the palace together.
Next time. He was going to take me flying again. For that, I'd allow the hand-holding to continue.